Articulating clamp for securing form panels in rectangular configuration



Oct. 15, 1968 c. I. WILLIAMS 3,405,930

ARTICULATING CLAMP FOR SECURING FORM PANELS IN RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATIONFiled Dec. 9, 1965 J Z Q ZO l 1' J W" quug w H;

l ml; /22 528 27 8 37L H l/VVE/VTOR. CHESTER I W/LL/AMS United StatesPatent M ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A' foldable clamp for securingcolumn forms in rectangular configuration, the clamp being formed byinterengageable sets of pivotally connected arms, each set beingprovidedwith' stops establishing a perpendicular relationship of thearms.

' This invention relates to the construction of clamps used for securinga group of panels in rectangular configuration preparatory to pouringconcrete columns. Clamps formed by interengageable angle units whichtogether define a rectangle are well known. These are assembled around agroup of four panels to secure the panels in this configuration so thatthe space within the panels can be poured full of concrete to constructa column. Each of the interengaged clamping devices is usuallyconstructed of two beams which are angular in cross-section, with oneflange being normally vertical, and the other normally horizontal. Thesebeams have been commonly welded together to produce a permanentperpendicular relationship between the axes of the beams. The verticalflanges are usually serrated so that the two angular units can beinterengaged to form the rectangular framework confining the formpanels.

While very effective for confining the form panels, these right-angular(in a double sense) beams units form a troublesome storage problem.Applicant has found that by interconnecting the beam elements of eachunit with a pivot, the elements can be stored very easily by increasingthe angular relationship from 90 to 180 degrees. In view of thenecessity of maintaining the flanges of the interconnected beam elementsin a coplanar relationship, applicant has provided an offset structureat the pivot connection for this purpose. In order to make the pivotarrangement practical, it becomes highly desirable to establish an exact90 degree relationship for the beam elements in the installed position.An arrangement of abutments is therefore provided, with the constructionbeing particularly suitable for manufacture out of conventional rolledstructural steel shapes. The several features of the invention will beanalyzed in detail through a discussion of the particular embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of clamping devicesinstalled around a group of four form panels to confine them preparatoryto pouring a concrete column.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the assembly shownin FIGURE 1 at one of the clamping devices.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the corner junction ofone modification of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a section on the plane 5-5 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view of the device shown in FIGURE 4, in the extendedstorage position.

FIGURE 7 is a view of a corner junction of a modified form of theinvention.

FIGURE 8 is a section on the plane 8-8 of FIG- URE 7.

Patented Oct. 15, 1968 Referring to FIGURE 1, the form panels 10-13 areshown secured together in a rectangular configuration by the clampingdevices 14 and 15 preparatory to pouring the concrete 16 which will forma column. Each of the clamping devices is formed by a pair ofinterengaged beam assemblies, each of which are composed of beamelements as shown at 17-18 and 1920 which are pivotally interconnectedas at 21 and 22. The beam elements themselves are all of a materialcommonly referred to as angle iron, which is simply a rolled steelsection having a rightangle cross-section as best shown at the ends ofthe beam elements in FIGURE 1. The normally vertical flanges of theseelements are serrated as shown at 23 so that the opposite sides of thedevice can be interengaged at the serrations in the illustrated manner.

To assure the maintenance of an accurate rectangular configuration, anabutment is provided by the end of the vertical flange 24 (refer toFIGURE 4), and also by the transverse web 25 which is welded to the web24 and to the horizontal web 26. To assure the coplanar relationship ofthe horizontal flange 26 with the opposite horizontal flange 27 of thebeam element 20, a fulcrum plate 28 is welded to the flange 26 forreceiving the rivet 22. The same construction is provided at thediagonally opposite corner of the clamping device. The abutment for-medby the combined effect of the end of the flange 24 and the web 25engages the vertical flange 29 of the beam element 20 at a positioncorresponding to a degree relationship of the axes of these beamelements. The elements may be locked in this relationship by applyingthe bolt assembly 30, which traverses flange 29 and also the web 25.When the device is to be stored, the bolt assembly 30 can be removed,and the beam elements then rotated with respect to each other so thatthe axes of the beam elements are disposed ina substantially straightline, as shown in FIGURE 6. It should be noted that the end 31 of theflange 29 must terminate at a point where clockwise rotation of the beamelement 20 with respect to the beam element 19, as shown on FIGURE 4,will not present a jamming action against the web 25. This isaccomplished by terminating the flange at a plane containing the axis ofthe rivet 22 and perpendicular to the axis ofthe beam element 20.

In the modification shown on FIGURE 7, the web 32 of the beam element 33is offset as shown at 34, so that an extension 35 of the flange 32 canperform the function of the pivot extension 28 shown on FIGURE 5. It ispreferable that the material of the flange 32 be cut away as shown at 36so that the end of the vertical flange 37 can function as a locatingabut-ment without interference from the oiIset portion 34. The end ofthe flange 37 is machined to engage the vertical flange 38 of the beamelement 39 at a point such that an exact 90 degree relationship existsbetween the beam elements about the axis of the rivet 40 which pivotallyconnects these beam elements. The arrangement of the offset 34 withrespect to the end of the flange 37 also eliminates interference betweenthe flange 38 and the offset 34 as the device is rotated.

The eflect of the abutments is to prevent the FIGURE 7 modification fromassuming an angle between the axes of the beam elements of less than 90degrees. These devices may be installed on a group of form panels asshown in FIGURE 1, so that one clamping device has its pivots on theopposite diagonal of the form arrangement from another (preferablyadjacent) clamping device. In this arrangement, the form is preventedfrom collapsing along both diagonals, and the rectangular relationshipis preserved. If the rectangular arrangement were to collapse along onediagonal (with the extension along the opposite diagonal) into aparallelogram, the corner angles at the opposite ends of one diagonalwould have to be less than 90 degrees. This is prevented by theabutments.

The pivotal relationship, with effective interengageable provided inboth of the illustrated modifications without sacrificing the coplanarrelationships of the flanges of the interconnected beam elements. As isobvious from an examination of FIGURE 1, the maintenance of properalignment of the total assembly constituting the clamping device wouldbe extremely difficult if substantial planar disparity existed betweenthe beam elements. Stresses from the pressure of the poured concretewould tend to cause shifting of the clamping devices into the greatestcross-sectional dimensions of the form that the devices will permit.

The vertical location of the clamping devices on the form panel assemblyis facilitated by providing nail holes as shown at 41 at convenientlocations on the beam elements. These are to accommodate nails into theform panels to prevent the clamping devices from slipping downward.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An articulating clamp for securing form panels in a rectangularconfiguration, comprising:

a pair of beam assemblies, each of said assemblies including beamelements having normally vertical and horizontal flanges forming angularcross-sections, said beam elements having serrations in said verticalflanges, and being pivotally interconnected at one end at saidhorizontal flanges,

said beam elements having interengageable abutments establishing amutually perpendicular relationship between the axes of said beamelements whereby said beam assemblies are interengageable at saidserrations to form a rectangular frame, said abutments including an endof said vertical flange on one of said beam elements, said end normallyengaging the side of the vertical flange of the other of said beamelements.

2. An articulating clamp for securing form panels in a rectangularconfiguration, comprising:

a pair of beam assemblies, each of said assemblies including beamelements having normally vertical and horizontal flanges forming angularcross-sections, said beam elements having serrations in said verticalflanges, and being pivotally interconnected at one end at saidhorizontal flanges,

said beam elements having interengageable abutments establishing amutually perpendicular relationship between the axes of said beamelements whereby said beam assemblies are interengageable at saidserrations to form a rectangular frame, said abutments including atransverse member on one of said beam elements engageable with a portionof the normally vertical flange of the other of said beam elements.

3. A clamp as defined in claim 2, wherein said memher and flange portionare normally secured by locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,484 12/1932 Tompkins269-123 2,891,590 6/1959 Olson 269-287 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, PrimaryExaminer. J. F. MCKEOWN, Assistant Examiner.

